Mental road blocks

I am signed up to do my first 5K on Saturday.  This is an important one for me because it benefits breast Cancer research.  My mom died of it at age 56 and I want to do it in memory of her.  I have been training since May.  This morning I was able to do it in 42 minutes.  It was a little slower than I would like, but at least I did it. 

Here is my problem.  For the past 2 weeks I have found excuses not to run.  I am still exercising.  Looking back I do this all the time.  Years ago I did a one mile fun run.  About one month before the run I decided not to do it and quit running.  My husband pushed me into completing it, but if It wasn't for him I wouldn't have completed it. He ran it with me and encouraged me the entire way.  This time I am doing it on my own.  Right when I am about to reach my goal I start to back off.  I think I am scared I am going to fail. 

Any suggestions on how to get past this mind game other than to push through it.  I will do it on Saturday, but at this point I am completely stressed out and wanting to quit.

Thanks

The only way to fail is not to start.  If you start the race odds are that you will finish.  Running a race in memory of someone is excelent motivation.  I dedicate all of my races to my Cousins daughter who lost her battle with Brain Cancer at 14.

We have all been in the position you are in and we have all made the choice, but again the only way to fail is to not even try.

Good Luck and look forward to your race report!

Thank you Paul.  You are always so encouraging.

Just a thought. Are you afraid of failure or is it maybe a fear of success? Maybe you haven't allowed to see yourself as a winner. Demons of the past can be hard to shake. Take a step back and look at what you have accomplished, and see where you were. I see a winner just in your numbers, and the success you have had in your time and completion of your 5K in 42 minutes. That's 4 minutes faster then when I ran my first 5K, I see your success. YOU need to allow yourself to see it as well.

Go complete the 5K in memory of your mom, and allow that love and passion for your mom to jump start your drive and energy to your next milestone. 

We all believe in you here, now go do it, and then come share your success after.

Jay

Thank you, Jay.  I am going to have to think on that.  You are correct.  I have no reason to be afraid. 

I agree with Paul, the only way you fail is to let your fear keep you from doing the event.
So what if you had to walk the whole thing, or half of it or 5 steps of it.  Go do it, you will get a feeling for what it's like, you will know how easy/hard it is.  Use it as a learning experience break down any road blocks you have and then kick it to the curb the next time you try it.

If you have been running and feel like you are ready, then damn you are ready.  Don't stop, just roll on through it.

I bet you would regret it more after the fact if you didn't try.

This last weekend I participated in a 1/2 marathon, one of the local middle schools had a lot of kids present and running.  They all had a quote on the back of their shirts:
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrafice the gift" - Steve Prefontaine

You can do it.  Believe in yourself.

Scott

Thank you.  Fear can be very powerful.  I need to remind myself how I will feel Saturday afternoon after I have completed it.

For me, I know that when I was Obese, I rarely finished anything I started. Now that I race, I find tremendous joy in completing something I worked hard to train for. One of my favorite quotes from a renowned runner is "The will to win means NOTHING without the will to train". In other words, The desire to be successful means nothing without putting in the work to be successful". Successes bread successes, and when you complete this goal on your own accord, I really think it could be the catalyst to propelling yourself to greatness in ALL aspects of your life. WE have to be the change we want to see in the world. In other words, you have to do things in life FOR YOU, not for anyone else but YOU! Follow your dreams and goals, then, PUT IN THE WORK to attain those. You got this!!! Get out there and rock it...

Thank you.  I love that quote.  I actually taped it to my music stand.  Among other things I am preparing for a concert in November.  It inspired me not only for Saturday, but to put in the extra hours  to be successful in November.